Any Day Now

ANY DAY NOW

Say you've kept some fire aside

to set light to me some surprising night
And say you've locked some fire away

to set light to me some surprising day

"Any Day Now" ~ Missy Higgins

"There's vodka, love, if you'd rather have that." The lanky barman stood patiently by the bar, indicating the wide range of spirits lined up in rows on the wall. So far Ginny had refused all pre-mixes, beers and ciders. She knew she wanted something else to go with her water, but she wasn't sure what it was. Yet.

"Vodka could be alright," she said dubiously. "Maybe with raspberry syrup?"

"Vodka and raspberry, then?" the barman repeated. "Will you have that?"

A voice at Ginny's elbow interrupted. "Yes, she will; that's her favourite."

Ginny turned to see Darren smiling at her and returned his grin. He was being jostled up against the bar by the sizeable crowd, his newly cut hair flopping fashionably into his eyes. "Oh, Darren," she teased him. "You know me too well."

"Darn right I do," he agreed, reaching out to touch her arm briefly. The rock emblem on his shirt gleamed in the light.

The vodka and raspberry was set on the bar before her. Ginny glanced up expectantly at the barman, her fingers reaching to open her purse. "On the house," he said significantly.

"Really?" she asked.

He gestured to the crowd with his hands. "You drew a big crowd."

"Hey, cheers," Ginny said, feeling very pleased. She knew the tips of her ears were turning pink.

"Don't make the lady blush now, Pete," Darren teased, jostling Ginny in the ribs. "She's not too confident with her own success yet!"

Pete laughed, swiping up a tea towel. "She'd better get used to it! There are more groupies arriving by the minute. Not sure we ordered enough kegs," he said in mock concern.

Ginny laughed, and turned her head only to find that he was right. The pub was filling quickly. She'd never imagined that she'd be able to draw such a crowd. She took a sip of the raspberry vodka in front of her, thinking back to her first pub gigs; regular punters, pool players, a couple of brawls and no one interested at all in the little redhead who wanted to sing to them.

"About ready to start, Gin?" Darren asked, moving a little closer to snake an arm around her waist. "Sound check's done; ready when you are."

"Oh, right," Ginny replied. "Yeah... just about ready to go, I think."

"It's a little different from the Fiery Dragon, isn't it?" Darryn gestured to the size of the pub. He couldn't believe their luck of scoring a gig at Mummaluka's, the biggest pub in town.

Ginny smiled, a little awed herself. "Just a little."

Darren grinned and released her, making his way over to the small stage in the corner.The punters were pressing tighter around Ginny now, a few of them glancing curiously at her. Ginny picked up her vodka and raspberry again, turning to follow Darren across the room.

"Chuck me that lead, Gin," Darren said, pointing at his worn carry-box. Ginny retrieved the lead and handed it to him. She turned to look at her own setup, noting that it was already done for her. She slipped onto her stool and moved it a couple of inches closer to Darren's keyboard. There wasn't much for her to do but sing; a big change from the days where she acted as the roadie for the duo as well. She threw a smile to their roadie, Mikey, who was sitting behind the mixing desk. Instead of the mixing desk being next to Darren's keyboard, it was now located at the back of the pub. They could afford to hire Mikey now. Darren had a keyboard sponsorship. Things had changed a lot and Ginny was still overwhelmed by it all.

"Done," said Darren. "Ready?"

Ginny nodded slowly, shaking her hair back over her shoulders. She tensed and released her muscles, expelling a deep breath.

"Evening, everyone," Darren said into his microphone, his voice disappearing into the chatter of the patrons. "Gonna start out tonight with a bit of Missy Higgins, the young girl from Australia doing well in the charts recently. Here's Ginny Weasley..."

There was enthusiastic applause which died down slowly as Darren began to play, the familiar notes ringing from the PA. Ginny closed her eyes briefly, centring herself. This was, by far, her favourite song from the set. Not for any particular reason but just because she connected with it. She felt herself move into the character and opened her eyes slowly, looking for familiar faces. Ron and Hermione had said that they would try to attend that night, as had Harry. Ginny felt her heart beat slightly faster as she pictured his smile from the last time she'd seen him.

"I'm so excited about seeing you again," he said, letting the innuendo hang in the air.

Ginny closed her eyes, adopting a relaxed, contemplative expression. "How long, how long, how long will we take to come undone?" she began, opening her eyes and searching the crowd for the familiar dark head. Darren's keyboard tinkled merrily beside her.

"It'll be awesome to have you there," Ginny agreed, lounging against the doorframe, smiling at him in the late April sunshine.

"It's certainly been awhile," Harry observed. He put his hands in his pockets, glancing briefly down the road. He was planning to walk back to Quality Quidditch Supplies instead of apparating, informing Ginny that he had become lazy and needed the exercise. Ginny had laughed. The day that Harry Potter became lazy was nowhere in the distant future as far as she could see.

"Yeah..," Ginny said thoughtfully. Awhile. She knew that it had been five and a half months last Friday, almost exactly, since he had last attended one of her gigs. He was always busy, though it hadn't worried Ginny too much. She always found herself so distracted when he was in the room.

"If you know the answer, tell me now and I'll write up a calendar for our count down." Ginny's voice was warm, reaching every corner of the room as the punters conversed in quiet murmurs or stopped chatting completely to listen to her. Mikey nodded at her and she sang, "'Cause what if what we see is all, is all we've got?"

"It's been really good to be able to see you today, Ginny."

Harry was gorgeous when he was feeling self-conscious. He had all the physique of a hero and yet an untamed, boyish grin which was mirrored in his eyes and lit up his whole face.

He studied Ginny's petunias intently before flicking his gaze back up to meet hers. "Really good," he repeated.

"Thank you," Ginny replied, her tone quieter than before. A suffocating feeling started to rise in her chest and all she could do was smile at him.

He hesitated. "I..."

"Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night." Ginny's voice gained in strength. "And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day." She paused, waiting for her cue. "Any day now..."

Harry and Ginny had been together for a long time. Their romance was a beautiful thing of the past that Ginny liked to take out and look at every once in awhile. Ginny still had a sock of his tucked away in a drawer. It was silly but she didn't want to ever give it back.

He finished her sentences and she made his coffee in the morning. He had always left her towel ready for her and she would place the newspaper by his favourite chair in the afternoons. She would wait for him in the sunroom, her hair falling across her face as she worked on her projects. He always came in quietly and kissed the nape of her neck before greeting her.

He said it was his favourite time of day. It was hers, too.

"How come, how come, how come I'm now on a road holding out my thumb?"

The crowd thickened a little, people milling closer to the little stage. Darren had his eyes closed, rocking out to his playing, and Mikey was nodding again, a sort of pleased smile on his face. Ginny could feel something akin to sadness welling up behind her eyes as she looked across the sea of unfamiliar faces.

"If you know my destination, please buy me the fastest car and throw me the keys," Ginny sang, giving more voice to the expression and letting her speaking voice announce the depth behind the words. She didn't want to cry. Not now. "'Cause what if what we see is all, is all we've got?"

"I wish we could hang out more often," Harry said, his words appealing to something inside Ginny.

Ginny smiled again. "So do I," she managed to say, swallowing the funny feeling in her throat.

"Why don't we?" he pressed.

Ginny lifted one shoulder in response, letting it fall with her smile. "Too busy, maybe," she said.

"I don't want that," Harry declared, pushing his glasses up his nose. "I don't want that at all."

Her voice cracked. "Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night."

Suddenly, Ginny could see Harry in the crowd. He was just a face near the bar but his face had all the right expressions on it; nothing of the blankness from strangers. He looked surprised and moved. She could see the words hitting home with him and she twisted her lips in a smile in his direction. He returned the smile.

"And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day."

"Don't you think that we should hang out more often?" Harry pressed.

Ginny closed her eyes. "Yes, no..." she said helplessly. "I don't know, Harry; I don't mind! I'm just..."

"Just..." he prompted her.

She didn't look at him, instead focusing on her garden. Their garden. "Waiting."

"'Cause finger by finger we're losing grasp," Ginny continued, her eyes fixed on Harry. He was gazing intently back, the faces around him fading to oblivion. "And I'm questioning the reasons why nothing beautiful does last..."

"Oh." He was quiet for a few moments. "So am I."

"Say you've kept some fire aside to set light to me some surprising night," Ginny repeated, her voice growing much stronger as the music took hold of her and she fell into the passion of the words. "And say you've locked some fire away to set light to me some surprising day, to me some surprising day..."

Ginny looked away from Harry, her gaze moving skyward as she tried to quell the flow before she cried.

The notes from the piano drew to a pause, waiting for her.

"Any day now..."

It was over. Ginny smiled at the applauding audience, blinking rapidly. The tears were on her lashes now. She hated crying in public and looked for an escape route.

"Ladies and gentlemen... Ginny Weasley!" Darren announced.

Ginny smiled, nodding.

"And next, we're-"

"Darren is going to bring out a little bit of Sting for you all," Ginny cut across him smoothly. A few of the patrons shouted and clapped. "Yes, Darren's a big fan."

"Uh..."

Ginny slipped off her stool. "Two songs," she said quietly, and stepped delicately off the stage, smiling and pushing her way through the crowd, searching for the door. She reached it finally and went through outside to the cool night air. She greeted the doormen, heading to the secluded doorstep of the shop next door.

Ginny sat down heavily, hugging herself in the cold. Her voice wasn't going to thank her for the night air. A solitary tear slipped down her cheek, pre-empting the flow she knew would soon appear. Two songs didn't afford her much time but she knew that Darren loved a chance to sing by himself and be the star. The crowd always seemed to like a guy singing.

"Ginny."

One word spoken and the tears fell. Ginny dragged a hand under her eyes before looking up to see Harry in front of her, silhouetted by the light from the lamp-post. He moved aside and sat down beside her, reaching for one of the bare hands clasped on her lap. His hands were warm and she shivered imperceptibly at the contact.

"Ginny, you were beautiful," Harry said quietly. When she wouldn't look at him, his hand came up to cup her chin, causing her to flinch away. He dropped his hand. "I've never felt so affected by music in my life."

Ginny sniffed. A handkerchief was offered to her and she took it, holding it to her face. Harry's arms wound around her back and he held her tightly, his cheek resting against her back, his breath sending shivers down her spine.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," she whispered.

"Ginny..." he said.

Ginny winced. It pained her to feel him so close behind her but he was too stubborn to let go, even if she asked him.

"I'm going to be fine," she said quietly. "It's okay. You don't have to sit out here with me."

Harry paused. "I want to," he said, squeezing her briefly. "What's wrong?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Everything. Nothing."

"How about you narrow it down for me?" Harry suggested good-naturedly. Ginny glanced quickly at him. His breath in the cold air had fogged up his glasses and he took them off, gazing at her very intently. "Well?"

"Oh, I don't know," she said, looking away again. There was a stinging feeling at the back of her throat from the cold and she rested her chin in her hands, covering her mouth and trying to calm down.

"Come on, Ginny," Harry said softly. "I don't buy that."

"Oh, Harry, I don't know!" Ginny snapped shakily, the words lost in her hands. A lone tear slid down her cheek and she turned in the other direction, hiding it. A second tear soon followed the first and a deluge came. The only things she could hear were her own whimpers and Harry's uneven breathing behind her. Harry suddenly yanked her into his lap, leaving her free to cry into his shoulder as he held her tightly.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, leaning back in an attempt to stem her tears. "You don't need this."

"I do," he said. "I deserve it more than anything in the world."

"No," she whispered. "You don't, you already hurt..."

Hadn't he said that to her? Hadn't he told her how everything hurt too much for him to cope? He didn't need to add her woes on top of his burden. That was the trouble with Harry; he tried to be everyone's hero and then wondered why he cracked up.

"Ginny, Ginny. No," he said softly, his lips very close to her ear. "No. That's over now."

Over. Was it really, though?

"But you stayed away," she said, hating herself with every traitorous word. She tried to pull herself upright, away, but he held her firmly. "You didn't come back!"

"No, I didn't," he whispered, rocking her. "I didn't and I'm so sorry, Ginny. You deserve better than that."

"Do I?" Ginny challenged him. "Nothing better has happened, Harry."

Harry sighed. "You deserve better," he repeated. "You don't deserve me."

"Why the hell not?" she demanded, making one furious movement to twist out of his grasp. She stood up and glared down at him sitting there. "Why?"

Harry held her gaze. "You deserve so much more than the broken man who left you all those years ago," he said. "Time heals."

Ginny stared at him and didn't answer, waiting. When he didn't say anything else, she exhaled loudly and crossed the road, marching angrily down the street. She heard footsteps behind her and knew he was following her. She stopped and leant heavily against a low wall, drumming her fingers nervously on the brick.

Harry approached her and stopped a few feet away. "What's wrong?" he asked guardedly.

"For the love of Gryffindor, Harry!" Ginny exploded, staring at him.

"What?" he asked in surprise.

"You just don't get it, do you?" she demanded. "Do you need it written down and signed by Cupid?"

He stood silently. She went on.

"What else do I have to do? I've been at your side practically since I've known you! All I've ever done is be there for you and you can't even--"

"Wait," he interrupted. "What do you mean, 'what else do you have to do?'"

Ginny was confounded. "What?" she echoed. "Are you kidding me? What do you think I've been doing for the past four years, getting over you? I'm waiting, Harry. And I have been for so long. Merlin!"

There was a silence.

"I didn't--know-"Harry started nervously, taking a few steps toward Ginny. When she didn't move away, he moved up close to her and picked up her near frozen hands.

"Know what?" she asked slowly.

"You..." Harry took a deep breath. "Merlin, you still love me?"

Ginny froze in amazement before laughing a short, hysterical laugh. "Bloody hell, Harry," she replied. "Merlin, strike me down if I haven't cried for you nearly every day since you left."

"What? Merlin, Ginny, you don't deserve me," Harry stammered. "Me and all my crap - you've got to be kidding."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Why? I like your crap."

"Do you?" Harry looked into her eyes briefly before pressing her body tightly against his, his crushing grip scaring the breath out of her. "I have missed you so much," he said. "I don't know why I left you. You were everything I ever needed to get better."

"No," Ginny said, a smile stretching across her face. "You left so you could get better."

"The thought of returning to you made me better," he replied. "It was like a punishment, being away from you. Then I thought you didn't need me back with you, so..."

Ginny pinched his side viciously. "Idiot," she muttered against his cheek. "It's been incredibly obvious to everyone in the wizarding world that I've been madly in love with you since I was ten."

"Ow?" Harry offered. She could feel his smile moving toward her own. "I'm so sorry, Ginny," he said, his lips brushing against her cheek. "I mean it. I want to make it up to you in every way possible for the rest of our lives."

"That's so cheesy," she said wryly.

Harry laughed. "I know. Sorry. I can't help it, I'm just..."

"Kiss me," Ginny said impulsively.

Harry paused, glancing away from her, his cheeks tinging pink.

"It's been so long," she said, following his method from before and using her hand to guide him to look at her. "You haven't kissed me in nearly four years."

He bit his lip.

"Don't bite that," Ginny interrupted before he had a chance to reply. "I need it intact."

Harry smiled. "You don't want to take it slow?" he asked carefully. "Test me out; see if I'm any good to you?"

Ginny smiled back at him. "Lifetime guarantee," she replied. "I'll take you back if you get too cheeky."

"Cheese!" Harry began before Ginny darted forward, pressing her lips on his. He was silenced instantly, wrapping his arms closer around her. The kiss deepened as Ginny felt the sadness within her disappear. Such a clichéd reunion, she reflected, smiling against his mouth. But after all this time, I kind of deserve it.

"What are you smiling at?" Harry inquired.

"You," Ginny answered. "I love you."

Harry's arms reached higher around her back. "I love you too," he replied quietly.

Ginny pulled back and kissed him very softly on his stubbly cheek. Harry raised his head from her shoulder and kissed her mouth impulsively. "Merlin," he said shakily. "I can't believe..."

Ginny silenced him with another kiss. "I'd better go back in," she said regretfully. "Will you come back in and watch me?"

"Give me a minute," he said.

Harry eventually drew away, sliding his lips slowly from hers and opening his eyes to see mirrored tears in hers. "I love you so, so very much, Ginny."

"Then..." Ginny broke off.

"No." He traced a finger over her bottom lip, studying the ravaged effect of the chewing she'd given it in the past few minutes. "I'll come back for you." He turned.

"When?" Ginny pleaded, taking a small step after him.

He glanced at her before moving through the doorway. "When I'm ready."

"Are you ready?" Ginny asked him cautiously, the memory fading.

They stood there for a few seconds more, holding each other. Harry eventually turned to smile at her and rubbed his thumbs under her eyes, removing all traces of her tears. "There," he said fondly. "All singer again."

Ginny grinned and released her hold on him. Harry picked up her hand and she leaned up, kissing his cheek. He smiled. "Ready."